Published: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 10:48 PM.

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GASTONIA — With seven innings in the books, the Gastonia coaches needed to know something from Chris Harkey, Monday’s starter on the mound.

“Coach was like, ‘Do you want the rest of this game?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it’s my game. I’m going for it,’” Harkey said.

The Belmont native proceeded to retire the next six batters to polish off Gastonia’s first nine-inning complete game of the summer as the Grizzlies pounded Petersburg 13-2 Monday at Sims Legion Park.

Harkey, a 6-foot, 205-pound right-hander and rising senior at Hofstra, scattered four hits, struck out four, walked two and hit one batter by pitch. One of the two runs was earned as Harkey improved to 2-0 in three appearances (all starts).

Including a quick six-pitch eighth inning, Harkey finished the night with 108 pitches. He said he had command over his fastball, changeup, curveball and slider but was thinking exclusively fastball and slider by the last couple of innings. The nine-inning complete game was Harkey’s first since his sophomore season at Catawba Valley Community College before he transferred to Hofstra.

“It’s huge for us to start the week out with a complete game and have a full bullpen going into a doubleheader (Tuesday),” Grizzlies coach Jason Wood said. “He did a great job tonight and he gave us everything he had and we certainly appreciate it because that’s going to be huge for us going into the week.”

Harkey had plenty of run support — a season high, actually — as Gastonia (7-9) cranked out 13 hits to snap a three-game losing streak that included a pair of shutouts in Saturday’s doubleheader.

GASTONIA — With seven innings in the books, the Gastonia coaches needed to know something from Chris Harkey, Monday’s starter on the mound.

“Coach was like, ‘Do you want the rest of this game?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it’s my game. I’m going for it,’” Harkey said.

The Belmont native proceeded to retire the next six batters to polish off Gastonia’s first nine-inning complete game of the summer as the Grizzlies pounded Petersburg 13-2 Monday at Sims Legion Park.

Harkey, a 6-foot, 205-pound right-hander and rising senior at Hofstra, scattered four hits, struck out four, walked two and hit one batter by pitch. One of the two runs was earned as Harkey improved to 2-0 in three appearances (all starts).

Including a quick six-pitch eighth inning, Harkey finished the night with 108 pitches. He said he had command over his fastball, changeup, curveball and slider but was thinking exclusively fastball and slider by the last couple of innings. The nine-inning complete game was Harkey’s first since his sophomore season at Catawba Valley Community College before he transferred to Hofstra.

“It’s huge for us to start the week out with a complete game and have a full bullpen going into a doubleheader (Tuesday),” Grizzlies coach Jason Wood said. “He did a great job tonight and he gave us everything he had and we certainly appreciate it because that’s going to be huge for us going into the week.”

Harkey had plenty of run support — a season high, actually — as Gastonia (7-9) cranked out 13 hits to snap a three-game losing streak that included a pair of shutouts in Saturday’s doubleheader.

Austen Colt went 4-for-5 with two RBIs, including a run-scoring triple to start the scoring for Gastonia. The Oral Roberts outfielder had three singles in addition to his triple and also stole a base and reached on fielder’s choice.

Bryce Beeler added two hits, Danny Fraga tripled and six other players registered one hit each for the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies did most of their damage against starter Rocco Cundari, who entered with an 0-3 record and 12.79 ERA. Gastonia continued the misery for the Southern Connecticut State right-hander, tagging him with eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Gastonia went ahead 2-0 in the second and blew it open with a seven-run fifth for a 9-0 lead. By the time Petersburg scored its only two runs in the seventh, the game was practically over as the Generals (2-14) lost their ninth in a row.

Upcoming schedule

The Grizzlies travel to Forest City for a doubleheader Tuesday, which remarkably will be the first time the two rivals have met this summer. One game will be a makeup from the June 5 game, which was suspended in the first inning due to rain. The Grizzlies and Owls are scheduled to meet four times this week.

Gastonia takes Wednesday off before hosting Florence on Thursday.

You may contact Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843 or twitter.com/gazettephil.